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Teargas bomb thrown at building where Globovisión journalist lives

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(IPYS/IFEX) - On the morning of 16 October 2008, an unidentified individual threw a teargas bomb at the building where Leopoldo Castillo, the host of Globovisión TV station's program "Aló ciudadano", lives.

Castillo believes that the attack is part of a series of intimidations against the private media that have taken place over the last few days.

On the same day, the National Assembly agreed to investigate Castillo and Rafael Poleo, editor of the newspaper "El Nuevo País", for allegedly instigating the public to assassinate the president after Poleo stated on 13 October "Aló Ciudadano" that President Hugo Chávez could end up like Italian dictator Benito Mussolini: "hanging upside down".

Also on 16 October, the National Commission for Telecommunications (CONATEL) started an "administrative process" to sanction Globovisión for having broadcasted Poleo's messages during its program.

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